Page 22 of A Sinner's Saint

I know.

Okay, then.I look up at Elena and Devon, who are both staring at me. Waiting. “Get dressed. We’re going to a party. Vin is coming to get us in…” I glance at the clock on my phone. “Shit, one hour!” I squeal before jumping off the bed.

Where did the time go?

I feel like we just got here. I guess I haven’t seen my friends as much this week and there was a lot to catch up on. Although mostly we just talked about Vin—the things I could tell them anyway. Like how perfect he is, how sweet, and how he makes me feel. Devon and Elena did not buy for one minute that Vin DeBellis is sweet. But I don’t care. I don’t need them to believe me. Because I know him. I know the real him and he is the sweetest, most-caring person I’ve ever met.

“One hour! Someone call Lauren and tell her to hurry her ass up!” Elena shrieks, pulling her closet open and disappearing inside it.

An hour later, we’re all standing out front of Elena’s house. I’m nervous. I don’t know why. I’ve spent every night with Vin this week. He’s seen me naked. But standing here, in this little black lace dress that… well, doesn’t really cover much of anything, I’m nervous. It’s too much. I shouldn’t have gone to so much effort. It’s just a high school party.

An SUV pulls up to a stop, the back door opens, and Vin steps out. His eyes roam up and down the length of my body, twice, before they land on my face. I can’t read his thoughts.

“Cammi?”

“Yeah?” I walk over to him. My friends trailing behind me. I lean up on my tiptoes and whisper, “Vin, kiss me.”

He smiles, lowering his head to press his lips against mine. His hand lands on my lower back, my bare lower back, and he growls into my mouth. “Did you forget the other half of your dress?”

“No, why? You hate it, don’t you? It looks ridiculous.” I pull away.

“I love it. You look fucking hot. I’m going to be walking around with a boner all night, staring at you at the same time I want to slash everyone else’s eyes out,” he says.

“Well, I guess you should probably hold my hand and not let go, then. I’ll make sure you don’t slash out anyone’s eyes.” I smile up at him while offering my palm.

Vin takes it. “Let’s go.” He pushes open the door, cursing when I climb in. I guess he just got a good look at my ass. He waits for Lauren, Devon, and Elena to get into the car afterme. Then he eyes Elena, who’s sitting next to me. “You need to move,” he tells her. “Back there.”

She laughs. “All good. I was just messing with you,” she says, moving to the third row to sit between Devon and Lauren.

When we walk into Dash’s house, the place is empty, bar Dash and Marcus. I look up at Vin, who’s standing next to me. So close, but not touching. I’ve learned he won’t touch me unless I ask him to. I just can’t bring myself to ask him why he needs my consent so badly. I don’t want to push, especially if it’s as bad as my imagination thinks it is.

“I thought you said it was a party?” I ask Vin.

“It is. You’re here and you happen to be the only person I need to be around.” His lips tip up at the corner, that little dimple showing.

Dash and Marcus are on the sofa, playing some kind of video game. Neither pays us any mind. “Help yourself to the kitchen,” Dash calls over, never taking his eyes off the screen.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Elena walks out of the living room.

“Does she know where she’s going?” I ask Devon and Lauren.

Lauren shrugs. “She has a nose for sniffing out booze.”

A bang forces my attention back to Marcus, who’s standing with his controller now on the table in front of him. “Booze? I’m in.”

“What the fuck, man?” Dash says before tossing his own controller aside. “Some backup you are.”

“You’ll survive,” Marcus says.

“You want a drink?” Vin asks me.

“Water?” I reply.

He nods. “Come on, I’ll show you where the kitchen is.” Vin glances down at my hand. I know he wants to hold it, but he won’t. Not unless I ask him to.

“Lead the way,” I say while offering him my palm. “If you don’t hold my hand right now, I might just run away.”

“You want me to hold your hand, Cammi?” Vin questions me.

---